Seragus rose from his chair.
"Well then. I won’t keep you."
He extended his hand toward Atheline before turning to Lilith.
"I wish you both a safe journey. The royal pass remains valid anywhere within my kingdom. If anyone gives you trouble, which I doubt, they’ll answer to me personally."
Atheline accepted the handshake.
"We appreciate your trust."
Lilith inclined her head.
"You have our gratitude for your hospitality."
Lucifer walked them toward the palace entrance.
"If your travels happen to bring you back this way..." He looked directly at Atheline. "...I’m still waiting for that spar."
Atheline laughed.
"I haven’t forgotten."
"I’ll hold you to that."
The little fox chirped happily from Atheline’s shoulder as if joining the conversation.
Lucifer reached over to scratch behind its ears.
"Take care of them."
The fox blinked at him before letting out another tiny chirp.
"I’ll assume that means yes."
Everyone shared one final laugh before the royal couple descended the palace steps. The great gates of the palace opened. Lilith and Atheline stepped through them side by side.
Behind them, Seragus remained standing atop the staircase. He watched until the two figures disappeared into the morning crowds.
Only then did Lucifer speak.
"They’re hiding something."
Seragus smiled faintly.
"They are."
"You don’t seem bothered."
"I’m not."
Lucifer folded his arms.
"You’re curious, though."
"Very."
Seragus’s eyes remained fixed on the distant avenue.
"They’re far too experienced to travel halfway across the world without a purpose, and they guarded that purpose carefully."
Lucifer nodded.
"Think they’re investigating the corruption after all?"
Seragus shook his head.
"No. If it were merely corruption, they’d have told us."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"Whatever they’re chasing... it’s something they don’t want anyone else chasing first."
The streets surrounding the royal district were already alive with activity. Merchants displayed colorful fabrics outside their shops while food vendors filled the air with the aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread.
The little fox looked around curiously, occasionally sniffing the unfamiliar scents drifting through the bustling streets. Once they had walked several blocks away from the palace, Lilith slowed her pace.
Without looking behind her, she spoke quietly.
"We’re almost certainly being watched."
Atheline kept his eyes forward.
"I noticed."
He had caught glimpses of the same armored patrol twice despite taking different streets. Several ordinary pedestrians also lingered just a little longer than seemed natural before continuing.
Lilith continued calmly.
"It isn’t necessarily malicious."
"No. Every kingdom monitors foreign rulers."
She adjusted her cloak.
"If two monarchs vanish inside another nation’s borders... the responsibility falls upon that kingdom."
Atheline nodded.
"Seragus would never leave something like that entirely to chance, nor should he. It would be irresponsible."
Lilith glanced toward a pair of city guards casually patrolling an intersection.
"They’re likely ensuring we don’t wander into restricted military zones, accidentally become targets for bandits, or disappear without explanation. In other words... They’re protecting diplomatic stability."
"Exactly."
Neither of them felt offended. Had the situation been reversed, the Dark Elven Kingdom would have done precisely the same.
Atheline smiled slightly.
"Then perhaps we should make their job interesting."
Lilith looked at him. He continued.
"Instead of heading toward the region shown by the Goddess... we do the exact opposite."
For a brief moment, Lilith simply stared at him, then a small smile spread across her face.
"You were thinking the same thing. If someone is reporting our movements..."
"They’ll report exactly what we want them to see."
Lilith nodded.
"We leave an obvious trail and abandon it."
The plan required no further explanation.
The Capital Teleportation Hub occupied an enormous plaza near the western side of the city.
Unlike the private royal teleportation array within the palace, this facility served merchants, nobles, adventurers, and government officials traveling throughout the Demonic Kingdom.
Dozens of teleportation circles filled the vast hall. Couriers hurried from platform to platform carrying sealed documents. Merchant caravans unloaded crates before attendants recorded destinations and cargo. Adventurers waited patiently in long queues.
The atmosphere was lively and efficient. Lilith and Atheline approached one of the reception counters. The official immediately recognized the royal crest upon their clothing.
He stood so quickly that his chair nearly toppled over.
"Your Majesties!"
Lilith offered a polite nod.
"We require transportation."
"Of course!"
The official hastily opened a ledger.
"May I ask your destination?"
Atheline answered clearly enough for everyone nearby to hear.
"We’ll be traveling to Blackforge City."
The name drew little attention by itself. Blackforge City was one of the Demonic Kingdom’s wealthiest western trade centers, famous for its enormous beast markets and blacksteel foundries.
The official wrote it down carefully.
"Two passengers. Destination confirmed."
He glanced at their royal pass. Everything matched.
"No escort required?"
"None."
"The teleportation platform will be prepared immediately."
As they waited, several nearby merchants exchanged casual conversation.
"The western markets must be doing well."
"I heard Blackforge’s beast auctions begin tomorrow."
"Perhaps Their Majesties are inspecting trade."
"It wouldn’t surprise me."
Exactly as expected. No one questioned the destination or suspected anything unusual.
Within minutes, attendants guided them toward one of the larger teleportation circles. The chief operator activated the formation. Blue light surged through hundreds of engraved runes.
"Destination locked. Blackforge City."
The platform shimmered and space folded around them, then the capital disappeared.
A heartbeat later, the scenery changed completely. Warm mountain air replaced the volcanic breeze of the capital. The teleportation chamber they emerged into was smaller but significantly busier.
Merchants immediately hurried past, pushing carts filled with hides, monster bones, and ore. The distant cries of traders echoed from outside.
As they stepped into the city itself, Atheline stopped for a moment to take everything in. Blackforge City possessed an entirely different atmosphere from the capital.
Rather than majestic palaces and broad ceremonial avenues, sturdy black stone buildings lined busy streets designed for commerce.
Massive warehouses stood beside bustling marketplaces. Caravans drawn by enormous armored beasts entered through towering gates while others departed toward every corner of the continent.
Demons of every appearance moved through the crowded avenues. Some possessed horns like the royal family while others had scales, tails, wings, or unusual skin colors ranging from deep crimson to ash gray.
Mixed among them were beastkin merchants, dwarven craftsmen, human traders, and even a handful of elves negotiating commercial contracts.
The city truly felt like the crossroads of an entire continent. The little fox peered curiously at a wagon carrying several large horned beasts.
One of the animals snorted in response. The fox immediately buried her face against Atheline’s shoulder.
He laughed softly.
"I suppose not every beast is friendly."
Lilith looked toward a nearby street lined with shops.
"We’re in no hurry."